Allsorts Dog Training

31/10/2025

If you’ve never heard of Working Trials before then please discover this awesome dog sport. The best way I can describe it is the best bits of lots of different disciplines. I did it in the UK and loved it and whilst it’s not so common here in NZ, there are still opportunities to have a go.
I’d be all over this if I was in the North Island. Go check it out and have a go. I guarantee you’ll love it.

29/10/2025

🦜A WILD BEAUTY 🦜

28/10/2025

Are you ready? Do you have a plan?

🎆 Guy Fawkes is just a week away!
While fireworks can be fun for some, they often cause anxiety and severe distress for our companion animals. Now is the perfect time to make sure your animals are safe, calm, and prepared.

Start by checking that your animal's microchip details are up to date on the New Zealand Companion Animal Register (NZCAR). It’s the quickest way to help reunite you if your animal becomes frightened and runs off! 🐾

Here are some simple steps to help keep your animals safe this fireworks season:
✔️ Keep animals indoors and close curtains to block bright flashes.
✔️ Create a safe, quiet space where they can retreat to if frightened.
✔️ Exercise dogs earlier in the day to avoid being outside during fireworks.
✔️ Offer toys or treats as distractions to help them stay calm.
✔️ If your pet is especially anxious, talk to your vet about calming options.

👉 Read more helpful tips: https://www.companionanimals.nz/fireworks

Together, let’s make this Guy Fawkes season a little quieter and a lot safer for our animals. 💙

28/10/2025

Don’t be in a rush. Take your time. Acclimate them to a new environment. Using your car is one of the easiest ways.

27/10/2025

Today’s walk said goodbye to Spring, as Winter crept back in with a cold southerly bringing snow to our home.
The dogs still enjoyed their romp around the block and are now thawing out in front of the log fire.

🐾

26/10/2025

Findings suggest dogs can read words like “PULL” and “FETCH” to associate them with an action!

Gifted dogs can categorize toys by function, not just appearance. In playful at-home tests, they linked labels like “fetch” and “pull” to toys—even ones they’d never seen before. The findings hint that dogs form mental concepts of objects, much like humans, pointing to deeper cognitive a...

26/10/2025

Shout out to the Juniors at the NZDAC, the young talent coming through was incredible.

Managed to get some photos of Fern and Puzzle, daughter of friend from

26/10/2025

Great to watch my friend Helena competing in the NZDAC Senior with Rango.
Dusted off the old camera and managed to snap a few shots!
Helena Akesson


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25/10/2025

We don’t compete in agility (mainly because I’m crap at remembering the courses - scentwork is my bag) but the were on in Cromwell. So I took a tiki tour to go and watch and do a little exposure and focus training with my dogs too.

It’s a busy environment with lots of going on but there’s plenty of room to find distance if you need it.
But the greatest thing is that nobody really interacts with your dogs. Dogs are under control, people are focused on other things. It’s the perfect place to do some proofing.

Rusty is great in pretty much all places but this was a first for Pepe, who can get lead frustration. But I was blown away with his level of calm. He was excitedly watching everything but not a peep came out of him and he continually checked in with me.

Great to see some familiar faces from who kept me updated on what was going on and Helena Akesson from ODTC competing with Rango in the Seniors.

A great day and worth the drive, go check it out of you’re in the area.

23/10/2025

💨RETRACTABLE LEAD WIND TEST 💨

With all the recent strong winds I discovered a few things about my retractable lead choices. Both are the Flexi brand, but one is tape and one is cord (I bought by accident).

Whilst the tape version is generally my preferred choice for various reasons I discovered that in strong winds it causes problems. The fluttering and twisting not only meant it couldn’t retract, it stressed out my dog Luna too with its noise and vibrations (I took it off shortly after this video).

The cord version wasn’t really affected by the wind much at all. And whilst they can still be somewhat a ‘cheese wire’ to other dogs if you’re not careful. On this occasion it did better than the tape version.

However, after walking these two I reverted to my trusty normal long lines for the other dogs, which I find easier to manage in general, even in the wind.

But it was a good opportunity to product test them.

23/10/2025

Mouthing puppy - please understand that teething can be very uncomfortable for them.

23/10/2025

Check out this handsome fella, looking for his forever home. Renee (who we know well) has been fostering and working hard with him. So much potential in the hands of someone experienced with big boofy breeds!
We can assist with any interest from suitable homes in the South Island.
Dave will be driving back from the North Island next week so could personally assist him coming to the South Island.